Saturday March 6 2010
A local Owyhee rancher had a branding day. Friends, relatives, neighbors, and neighboring cowboys showed up to help.
Watching the herd.
A sea of cows.
Getting the kinks out of the rope.
Separating the mamas.
Heating the fire for the branding irons.
Branding irons in the fire.
Git along little dogie
Git along I say.
Little dogie.
Spurs.
Comfort before.
Got the first one.
Ropes.
The adversary.
Got a hind leg.
Unceremoniously (and efficiently) hog tied and knelt on, branded, ear tagged, injected, wormed, castrated.
Hot branded.
Comfort after.
Next up.
This man was determined to be the header without a rope.
He got him!
Holding one.
Teamwork.
Dally.
Backhand.
I love seeing working horses - they almost always look so content. Bullying cows must be one of the top 5 jobs a horse could ever want!
ReplyDeleteGreat pics!
Funny, Funder! But true! Those are some wonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos - what a rough day for those calves! Castrated, branded and given a earring! LOL
ReplyDeleteIt really did feel like being there - thanks!
Do you think the gentleman in photo 14 might give me his hat?
ReplyDeleteQue imagenes más bonitas, del trabajo de campo de los vaqueros, lo peor el fuego para llos hierros.
ReplyDeleteSaludos desde España de Gabriel.
http://ggjineteraid.blogspot.com/
My son worked for a big cattle ranch in Likely, California for awhile. all the neighbors got together for the branding; brought all the kids and picnic lunches, a wonderful "social" event, so much color and comraderie.
ReplyDeleteRichard: I think it may be very difficult to part a cowboy from his cowboy hat!
ReplyDeleteI love to see the horses in real work on the ranch. It puts all the rodeo events into great perspective.
ReplyDeleteOuch, for the calves, but I guess it's s necessary evil. The brown and white one has really interesting markings on its head/face.
Wow, great pics. You really captured the essence of the moment. Made me uncomfortable and my guts clench up a little about the calves, but the horses and especially the cowboys seem quite happy and and in their element.
ReplyDeletelol! These are just awesome photos. I love seeing some of the funnier techniques in catching the cows, too. lol!
ReplyDeletePoor calves. Looks like a traumatic day. It's over pretty quickly, though.
Now I know what is meant by 'got my irons in the fire' hehe!
~Lisa